Kelii Acasia, 19, is the man police say dealt the final blow that led to the death of 58-year-old Ned Nakoa.

It was just after midnight Saturday on Kalakaua Avenue about a block from Kapahulu Avenue.

Police said Acasia and Benjamin Pada, 18, were stealing a purse from a couple when Nakoa tried to stop the crime.

"It was totally uncalled for," said Marcus Perry, who was waiting for friends and saw the whole thing.

"He was telling the two boys, enough already, and one of the teenagers just whacked him," Perry said.

Perry actually spoke with Nakoa about 30 minutes before the beating when Nakoa asked him for a light.

"His last words to me were, 'Oh, God bless you,' and I told him, 'God bless you too,' and he walked off," Perry said. "30 minutes later the fight went on and I ran down there and he got knocked out."

Acasia is charged with second degree murder. Pada is charged with robbery and assault.

Bystanders gave Nakoa CPR, but the beating left the him with severe head injuries. He died Sunday at a hospital. His family is left with pain and anger.

"It shouldn't have happened you know?" said Nakoa's close cousin Clare DeLeon, on the phone from Maui. "It just shouldn't have."

But she said Nakoa was never one to stand aside and do nothing when he would see something bad happening.

"It's so him to be where he was that night and, you know, to help that one couple," she said. "That would be Ned."

Acasia's bail has been set at $1 million. Pada's bail has been set at $100,000. Both are expected to be in court Tuesday.

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